Servo-resolvers



Jan. Z, 1962 J. A. VILLE ErAL 3,015,446

SERVO-RESOLVERS Filed July 15, 1957 United States Patent l 3,015,446 SERVO-RESLVERS .lean Andr Ville and .lean Thophile Marie Gustave Bouzitat, Paris, France, assignors to Societe Alsacienne de Constructions Mecauiques, Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin),

France, a public establishment of France Filed July 15, 1957, Ser. No. 671,908 Claims priority, application France July 23, 1956 4 Claims. (Cl. 23S-189) The invention relates to improvements in servo-resolvers which eiect conversion of co-ordinates.

ln analog computers, the servo-resolvers have for an object, among others, to resolve the rectangular or cartesian co-ordinates of a mobile point P into the spherical co-ordinates thereof.

Whereas in rectangular axis the co-ordinates of a point P are generally designated by the letters x, y, z, the position of P is defined in spherical co-ordinates by its distance D (to the zero point), its angle of bearing G and its angle of elevation S. In such spherical co-ordinates, the axis Oz, generally called the vertical axis, around which are performed the bearing rotations, forms a single straight line: for any point on said vertical axis Oz, the bearing G is indeterminate and the angle of elevation is equal to ivf/2 radians (all angles being expressed in radians). When a mobile point P crosses the Vertical axis Oz, its bearing varies abruptly by 1r and the absolute value of its angle of elevation passes through a maximum value of 71-/2 radians.

Due to these mathematical conditions, the servo-resolver comprising the shaft rotating in the angle of bearing G undergoes a considerable phase displacement or shift relatively to the point P when said point passes in the close vicinity of the vertical axis, because the rotation speed of the shaft in G is in practice limited to 1r/4 radians per second. This phase displacement leads to errors in the computer and such errors are able to have a detrimental eiect on the succession of the performed calculations.

En order to clearly explain the position of the drawbacks resulting from the above-mentioned conditions, a preliminary description of the working process of servoresolvers o the prior art will be given with reference to FIG. l showing diagrammatically a computer including a pair of servo-resolvers R1 and R2 and enabling a continuous calculation to be made of the spherical co-ordinates D, G, S of a point P starting from the right-angled co-ordinates x, y, z; the computer has therefore to resolve the following equation system:

D cos S. cos G'=:z: {D cos S. sin G=y D sin S=z The resolver R1 which comprises a shaft driven in rotation through an angle G by a servo-motor M1, receives two voltages varying directly as x and y respectively and delivers a third and a fourth voltage respectively proportional to r and e1 given by the formulae:

3,015,446 Patented Jan. 2, 1962 the shaft of the servo-resolver R1 has a single position of stable equilibrium, i.e. the position wherein G'=G and r=r 0. Furthermore, the voltage e1 has always a small absolute value.

Similarly, the servo-resolver R2, which comprises a shaft driven in rotation through an angle S' by a servornotor M2, receives two voltages varying directly as r and z respectively and delivers two voltages respectively proportional to D and e2 given by the formulae (3') The voltage e2, after suitable amplification, controls the rotation of servo-motor M2 and tends to drive it in the direction which increases or reduces angle S' according as e2 has a positive or negative value respectively.

Therefore, if G'=G (or even if the difference G-G is small), angle S tends to become equal to S and, consequently, the shaft of servo-resolver R2 has a single position of stable equilibrium, i.e. the position wherein S=S and D'- D 0. Furthermore, the voltage e2 has always a small absolute value.

lf, as is normally admissible, e1 and f2 are considered as two infinitesimal quantities of the same order, it readily appears from the Equations 2 and 3 that if e1 remains innitely small relative to D cos S=r:

lt is therefore possible to assimilate the angle G tothe bearing G and eventually the distance r' to the horizontal distance r=D cos S.

The groups of Formulae 2 and 3 clearly show the above-mentioned disturbances or perturbations produced in the working process of the computer by the passage ot the angle of elevation close to the ivf/2 value or, in other words, the passing of the horizontal distance r close to the 0 value.

Firstly the servo-control ofy resolver R1 becomes slack or loose and the static error ofV Gl-G may reach rather high values; but it is possible to reduce said static error by a variable gain device which maintains substantially constant the tightness -of the control.

econdly the variation of the bearing G becomes too rapid to be followed by the rotation (in G) of the shaft oirnotor M1; this fact produces a material dynamic error on G-G and therefore, as shown by'Formulae 3, on S"-,S' and DD.

if it is yassumed that the angle of elevation S passes exactly through the 1r/2 value, ile. that the point P crosses the vertical Oz, the bearing varies abruptly by 1r radians,r and, as the rotation of the G shaft is unableto fol-Y low without a certain delay such a variation, the voltage r remains negative as long as G-G is greater than ar/ 2.

With a servo-resolver R1 of conventional type, the electric motor M1, controlled by the voltage drives G shaft through a rotation of 1r radians so that said shaft regains its single position of stable equilibrium, wherein G=G and r=r such a rotation requires about 4 seconds and results therefore in errors.

The invention has therefore for an object an improved servo-resolver free of the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved servo-resolver comprising for the rotating shaft thereof, two positions of stable equilibriumrspaced apart by 1r radians, said shaft being automatically directed to the nearest position of equilibrium.

The invention has also for an object a servo-resolver comprising in its output circuits a sign-detector ensuring an electrical displacement of 1r radians of the zero point of the G rotations.

It is 'a further object of the invention to provide a computer for the transformation of rectangular co-ordinates in spherical co-ordinates comprising a shaft which never undergoes significant delay relative to the actual bearing to be determined.

' A servo-resolver, according to the invention, is characterized by the fact that the shaft thereof is capable of occupying two positions of stable equilibrium correspending to two angles differing by 7r radians and chooses automatically, from said two' positions, the position that it can reach through a rotation of an angle not greater than 11-/2 radians, the output elements being such that the equilibrium remains undisturbed by such choice.

According to 'a further feature of the invention such a possibility is realized by electrically displacing through nradians the zero point of the G rotations by changing the signs of the voltages delivered by resolver R1 Without further modification thereof. In other words the` halfturn that the G shaft could not perform mechanically without an appreciable and troublesome delay is effected electrically.

The changing of the Voltage signs must, as a rule, take place at the very moment when the bearing G Varies abruptly by 1r radians i.e. at the very moment when the voltage delivered by resolver R1 undergoes a change of sign as it passes through zero.

Therefore, according to the invention, said voltage passes through a sign-detector provided in the output circuits of resolver R1, said sign-detector controlling a `Vset of sign-inverters acting on both voltages delivered by resolver R1 on the output side of said sign-detector.

Advantageously the output voltage:

is amplified `and ,then demodulated before being applied to4 a relay controlling the sign-detectors.

A servo-resolver for converting rectangular coordinates to spherical coordinates comprises therefore a shaft driven in rotation under the control of Ya voltage delivered by saidv servo-resolver, said shaft having, for each combination of input co-ordinates, two positions of stable equilibrium separated by an angle of 1r radians, and means for directing said shaft automatically and continuously towardsthat of the said two positions', which said shaft can reach by a rotation through an angleV not greater than 1r/2 radians,

More particularly such a servo-resolver comprises a first and a second servo-resolver forfconverting rectangular co-ordinatesV to spherical co-ordinates comprising a first and a secondinput circuit each receiving a rectangular -co-ordinate, a shaft drivable in rotation, a first output circuit comprising in parallel a rst amplifier delivering its output to a relay and a first sign-inverter, a second output circuit comprising in series a second signinverter and a second amplifier delivering its output to an electric motor driving said shaft, said relayV actuating concomitantly said rst Iand said second sign-inverter.

In particular in a preferred embodiment, said first amplifier may comprise in series, amplifying means, rectifying means and switching means controlling said relay, said amplifying means receiving the voltage delivered to said first output circuits and delivering an amplified current to said rectifying means, the output of said rectifying means being applied to said switching means.

The aforesaid and other objects, features and advand tages of the invention will be more easily and fully understood `from the illustration of embodiments of a servoresolver according to the invention and parts thereof, it being understood that the invention is not restricted to the details of the illustrated and described embodiments, but that it is subject to modifications and adaptations.

In the attached drawings:

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a servo-resolver, according to the invention, comprising two positions of stable equilibrium;

FIG. 3 shows the electrical circuit of an embodiment of a servo-resolver according to the invention;

FG. 4 is a detailed View of a preferred amplifying, dernodulating and switching assembly used in the embodiment of FIG. 3.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 2 illustrating a block diagram kof a servo-resolver with two positions of stable equilibrium, which will hereinafter be termed a bi-stable servo-resolver.

In FIG. 2 is illustrated, in addition to the servo-resolver Rl, a further resolver R1 arranged on the same shaft driven in rotation, according to G', by an electric motor M1. Resolver R1, receiving voitages u and v, has the function, when the G shaft is correctly controlled, of delivering two voltages a and b which may be assimilated to voltages a and b given by the following formulae (6) {a=u cos G+V sin G b=-u sin G+V cos G The voltages u 4and v are two sinusoidal voltages of the same frequency and phase (the phase difference being 0 or 1r), the amplitudes of which represent two cartesian coordinates having peak amplitudes u and v. The signs of the cartesian co-ordinates are positive and negative, depending on whether the corresponding voltage u or v is in phase or in phase opposition with a fixed reference phase in the calculator in which the resolver is incorporated.

The eiect of the resolver is to produce in u or v the changes corresponding to a rotation G in accordance with the Formulae 6, where G is the angle through which the resolver has rotated from its position of origin.

It is clear that if the zero point of the G rotations is displaced by 1r, the signs of the voltages a and 13 delivered by resolver R'l have to be changed for the formation of voltages a' and b' (the reversal of the signs of voltages u and v delivered to R1 would also be equivalent to said this change).

f The sign-detector through which passes a voltage r cos (G'-G) has therefore to control a set of sign-inverters acting on the voltages delivered not only by the servoresolver R1 but also by -all the resolvers, such as Rl'. arranged on the same shaft as R1. Y v

Under these conditions, if the sign detector is traversed by a negative voltage, i.e. if

Icy-@og the sign-inverters operate and everything takes place as if the G shaft rotated abruptly through an angle of 1r radians.

In fact it is the origin of the G rotations which is electrically shifted through an angle of 1r radians concomitantly with the position of stable equilibrium of the G shaft.

The intervention of sign-detector would not therefore product the slightest modification of the voltages delivered by servo-resolver R1 and by resolvers such as Rl arranged on Same shaft, if said shaft reached Without any delay its position of stable equilibrium.

But, as the rotation speed of G shaft is in practice limited to 1r/ 4 radians per second, the resulting dynamic error in G-G is reduced if the displacement of said shaft from its position of stable equilibrium has a lower value, independently of any rotation. Such is indeed the effect of the action ofthe sign-detector if the bearing G undergoes an abrupt variation of 1r radians, when point P passes through the vertical axis Oz, the sign-detector operates as soon as the voltage r cos (GG) has a negative value sufciently high to trigger or start said detector. The electrical shift of G shaft has therefore a slight delay with respect to the discontinuity of G and this delay produces a to-and-fro movement of slight amplitude in the rotation of said G shaft. But the dynamic error -thereby produced in G-J is very much less than the error produced by a mechanically performed half-turn.

lf the bearing G has only a rapid variation because point P reaches the close proximity of vertical axis Oz, the G shaft may undergo a substantial shift relative to G', but, as soon as this shift exceeds 11F/2, the sign-detector operates and electrically shifts the G' shaft through an angle of 1r radians, thereby transforming a phase delay greater than 11'/ 2 in a phase lead less than fr/Z. The dynamic error produced on G'-G is thereby materially reduced more especially as there is obtained a cert-ain compensation between the errors arising from the phase delays and thus due to the phase advances which follow the phase delays due to the intervention of sign-detector it is obvious that, when the voltage r cos (G-G) which passes through the sign-detector becomes positive again, the action of the sign-inverters is cancelled and everything takes place as if G shaft rotated again through an angle of 1.- radians. In fact, the zero point of the G' rotations returns thus to its original position concomitantly with the position of stable equilibrium of G shaft and a phase delay greater than 11-/2 is again converted to a lead less than ir/ 2.

The G shaft of a bi-stable resolver according to the invention of the type described may therefore actually occupy two positions of stable equilibrium corresponding to the rotation angles G=G or G'=G+1r; said resolver automatically chooses, among said two positions, the position that it can reach by rotating through an angle not greater than rr/Z radians. Said two positions of stable equilibrium are moreover equivalent with respect to the values of the voltages delivered by the resolver.

For reasons which clearly result from the foregoing calculations and explanations, the bi-stable servo-resolvers according to the invention thus permit, in analog computers wherein takes place a continuous conversion of rectangular co-ordinates x, y, z to spherical cra-ordinates D, G, S, the dynamic errors originating from the existence of a single direction in the spherical -co-ordinates system to be stubstantially reduced.

An embodiment of the bi-stable servo-resolver unit of FIG. 2, according to the invention, is shown in FIG. 3.

The bi-st-able servo-.resolver proper shown generally by block 1 in broken lines comprises a shaft 2 driven in rotation, through a train of gears 3 by a motor 4. The coordinates x and y are introduced into servo-resolver 1 by circuits 5 and 6 respectively. The line 7 leads the first output voltage a delivered by servo-resolver 1 to motor 4, through transformer 8, a first sign-inverter 9 and control amplier 10. The second voltage b delivered by servoresolver 1 into circuit 11 reaches, through transformer 12, a second sign-inverter 9. The sign-inverters 9 are controlled by a relay 13 receiving the voltage b through an amplifier 14 disposed in parallel to circuit 11.

One embodiment of the amplifier 14, which has for its object to carry out electrically the above mentioned half-turn by changing the sign of the voltages leaving servo-resolver 1 according to the mathematical indications given above, is sho-wn on FIG. 4.

Amplifier 14, which is the main unit of a servo-resolver according to the invention, comprises a double-triode 15 which amplifies voltage b; the amplified voltage is applied to a demodulation circuit of known ring type. The polarity of the rectified voltage is related to the sign of voltage b. An auxiliary bias c is added to the rectified voltage, said bias voltage being intended to act on the elbow or bend of the characteristic curve of triode tube 17 actuating the relay 13 of inverters 9.

When the voltage b is positive, the rectified unidirectional voltage leaving the ring demodulator is negative and the relay is not actuated.

0n the contrary when the voltage b is negative or equal to zero, the rectified unidirectional voltage is positive, the

tube 17 is conductive and actuates relay 13.

Under the influence of tube 17 the relay 13 reverses simultaneously the voltage a (shown in FIG. 3).

Therefore the shaft 2 of servo-resolver 1 remains in position and is not required to perform a 1r rotation in order to reach its equilibrium position.

Since certain modifications may be made in the device of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is understood that all the features contained in thev foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings, should be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

l. A servo-resolver for converting rectangular coordinates to spherical coordinates comprising: a pair of input circuits; means for applying to said input circuits respectively, voltages representing the rectangular coordinates; a rotatable shaft electrically associated with said input circuits; a pair of output circuits; a sign detector connected in one of said output circuits; a series of inverters; means for actuating said inverters from said sign detector, to effect the sign inversion of voltages in said output circuits; and an electric motor for driving said shaft, said motor being energized from the other of said output circuits.

2. A servo-resolver for converting rectangular coordinates to spherical coordinates comprising: first and second input circuits; means for applying to said circuits respectively, voltages representing first and second rectangular coordinates; a rotatable shaft electrically associated with said input circuits; first and second output circuits, each including sign-inverting means, and said first output circuit including a sign detector connected ahead of said sign inverter, said sign detector being connected to actuate both said sign inverting means; and an electric motor connected to be energized by the output of said sign inverting means of said second output circuit, said motor being mechanically coupled to said rotatable shaft.

3. A servo-resolver for converting rectangular coordinates to spherical coordinates comprising: first and second input circuits; means for connecting to said circuits respectively first and second voltages each representing a rectangular coordinate; a rotatable shaftV electrically associated With said input circuits; a first output circuit including a first amplifier, a relay connected to the output of said amplifier, and a first sign inverter connected in parallel Withsaid amplifier and relay; a second output circuit including a second sign inverter and a second amplifier connected in series; an electric motor connected to said second output circuit and mechanically coupled to said shaft; and means causing said relay to actuate simultaneously said rst and second sign inverters.

'7 8 4. A servo-resolver as claimed in claim 3, wherein References Cited inthe file of this patent said rst amplifier comprises, in series, amplifying means, UNITED STATES PATENTS rectifying means and switching means controlling said relay, said amplifying means receiving the voltage delivered in said irst output circuit and delivering an ampli- 5 ed current to said rectifying means, the output of said rectifying means being applied to said switching means.

2,404,387 Lovell et al. July 23, 1946 2,922,579 Goldman Jan. 26, 1960 

